City Proceeds with Auto-Injector Pilot Project

The Canadian city of Hamilton has moved one step closer to requiring epinephrine auto-injectors in each of its 1,900 food service outlets.

The revolutionary idea will move forward as a pilot project, with auto-injectors slated to be placed in a food court or major restaurant chain by the spring of 2014. After that, they will remain for one year before the idea is re-examined.

Hamilton will be covering some of the costs associated with the program. It is unclear who will be pay for the remainder.

Hamilton’s mayor, Bob Bratina, told a local newspaper he thinks more information is needed before moving forward. He also wants to hear opinions from the city’s restaurant industry.

“I’m not clear how the city should be involved or at what cost,” he said.

It’s possible that the Rotary Club of Ancaster will help with funding in the future – as this organization originally came up with the ideabefore it was brought forward to city council by club member and councilor Lloyd Ferguson.

The city’s lawyer has also been charged with looking into Ontario’s Good Samaritan Act, an act which legally protects people aiding others in an emergency, to make sure anyone using such a stock epinephrine device wouldn’t be held liable for any issues that may arise.

Earlier this year, the Hamilton city council voted to look into the possibility of keeping the life-saving devices on hand at all food courts, fast food outlets, restaurants and any other food outlet within its borders.

“I don’t think we can move too quickly on this,” councilor Lloyd Ferguson told The Hamilton Spectator. “Let’s step up and show the country how to save lives.”